The authority may acquire, directly or by and through a participating health institution, participating educational institution, participating nonprofit institution, or participating research institution as its agent, by purchase or by gift or devise, such lands, structures, property, rights, rights-of-way, franchises, easements, and other interests in lands, including lands lying under water and riparian rights, as it deems necessary or convenient for the construction or operation of a project, upon such terms and at such prices as it considers reasonable and can be agreed upon between it and the owner thereof, and take title thereto in the name of the authority or in the name of a health facility, educational facility, nonprofit facility, or research facility as its agent.